Rec sports: HCYP Patriots 10-U Red win softball state championship

The deadline for submitting sports copy is 9 a.m. on Monday. We prefer email (howardcountysports@patuxent.com). We do not accept results by phone. When two Howard County teams play, players from both teams (first and last names) must be mentioned in the write-up.

Softball

The HCYP Patriots 10-U Red softball team won the Maryland/DC ASA class B state tournament by compiling a perfect 5-0 record. The Patriots went 3-0 in pool play, outscoring their opponents 42-14. As the top seed in bracket play, the Patriots defeated the Forest Hill Heat, 15-5, before defeating the Bayside Blues, 13-9, for the championship. The championship earns the Patriots a berth in the Eastern Nationals to be played in Sterling, Virginia, July 24-28.

Thirty-seven runners came out on a hot, humid Wednesday evening to run the first weekly race of the summer put on by the Howard County Striders. David Toller and Marquel Bowler were the winners of the 5k race at the Elkhorn/Savage trail. Toller's time of 17:14 is a new course record. Volunteers: John Bratiotis (race lead), Amanda An, George Kroeker, Kendra Smith and Julie Trapp.

More than 30 athletes from the Howard County Junior Striders participated in the Potomac Valley Association Track and Field Championships from June 13-16. They had advanced from a preliminary USA Track and Field (USATF) meet on June 1. Those who finished in the top 12 in their event advanced to the regional qualifier in July, the last step in qualifying for the USATF National Junior Olympic meet. Those who finished top eight received medals. Twenty-one Junior Striders placed top 12.

The Striders and Bullseye Running hosted their first race in the Summer Friday Night XC Series on June 14 at Wilde Lake High. Danny Rau won by 30 seconds and Vicki Lang made a rare appearance on a cross country course and beat all the women. The next race is June 21 at Centennial High. All races cost only $5 and anyone who runs three of the five in the series will earn a special Striders/Bullseye Running performance shirt.

The weather was beautiful for the Bullseye Running's Father's Day 10K at the Gateway Overlook Center and sponsored by Mamma Lucia, Uno's, Costco, Road Runner Sports, Brooks, ADT and Race Ready. Constantine Matsakis led the way with an impressive 33:57 while Kendra Smith also posted a great time of 40:43 to place first in the female category. The Gesslers won the Father/Daughter team race while the Keatings won the Father/Son category. The event continues to grow with 147 finishers this year.